A late Sebastian Larrson goal saved a point for battling Sunderland at the Hawthorns after it looked like a Saido Beharino brace was going to give Alan Irvine a winning start to Premier League management.

Sunderland took an early lead in the 5th minute when Lee Cattermole struck a thunderbolt into the top corner from 20 yards after the Baggies had only half cleared a costless kick by Larsson giving the the former Wigan man only his second goal for the club.

West Brom responded well however and were level three minutes before half time when Valentin Roberge was judged to have brought down Victor Anichebe in the box although there seemed to be minimal contact however the referee pointed to the spot and Beharino stepped up to roll the ball home sending Mannone the wrong way.

As the game reached it's closing stages it seemed WBA would run out winners thanks to another Beharino goal. Things had opened up for Graham Dorrans and he hit a good shot which was well saved by Mannone however his former teammate Craig Gardner latched onto the loss ball and delivered a quick cross to Beharino on the left who turned in with his left foot.

Five minutes from time however and Sunderland gained parity courtesy of good work by Jordi Gomez and Patrick Van Anaholt down the left with the latter produced an inviting low cross which Larsson turned home left footed from close range.

A point was probably a fair result as neither side really got into full swing and dominated the game. Gus Poyet will probably be happier than Alan Irvine as Sunderland were the away side.

Player Ratings

WBA Sunderland
       
Foster 6 Mannone 5
Wisdom 6 Brown 6
Dawson 6 Roberge 4
Olsson 6 O'Shea 6
Pocognoli 7 Van Anaholt 7
Mulumbu 6 Cattermole 8
Gardner 7 Larsson 7
Dorrans 7 Rodwell 6
Brunt 6 Johnson 5
Beharino 8 Wickham 5
Anichebe 6 Fletcher 5
Subistitutes
Baird 6 Gomez 7
Yacob NA Buckley 6
Sessegnon NA Altidore NA

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About the author
Jamie Joslyn
20 year old sports journalism at Sunderland University, huge Sunderland fan